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                           Astronomy Picture of the Day   
      
       Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our   
         fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation   
                       written by a professional astronomer.   
      
                                 2021 December 23   
      
                             Three Planets and a Comet   
                    Image Credit & Copyright: Tunc Tezel (TWAN)   
      
      Explanation: Are you still looking for that perfect holiday gift for an   
      astronomer? If your night sky is dark and horizon clear enough, the   
      Solar System may have done your shopping for you. Send them outside   
      after sunset to see three planets and a comet. In this snapshot of the   
      December solstice evening sky from the village of Kirazli, Turkey the   
      brightest celestial beacon is Venus, close to the southwestern horizon   
      at the right. Look left and up to find Saturn shining between clouds.   
      Follow that line farther left and up to bright Jupiter, the Solar   
      System's ruling gas giant. This year's surprise visitor to the inner   
      Solar System, Comet Leonard (C/2021 A1), is near the horizon too. The   
      comet is fainter but forms a nearly equilateral triangle with planets   
      Venus and Saturn in this view. After a dramatic brightening in recent   
      days the comet is just visible to the unaided eye, though a nice pair   
      of binoculars is always a good idea.   
      
                        Tomorrow's picture: pixels in space   
        __________________________________________________________________   
      
          Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)   
               NASA Official: Phillip Newman Specific rights apply.   
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                         A service of: ASD at NASA / GSFC   
                                & Michigan Tech. U.   
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